Page 462 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

First of all, my perfectionism makes me anxious about
high-pressure situations. In school, I worry about taking

tests. The pressure is on because there is no way to go

back or change my performance. As I enter the

classroom on test day, I feel my hands becoming

clammy and I worry that I will forget everything I have

studied. Socially, I worry when I have to go to parties or
meet new people. I am afraid that I will be dressed too

casually or too formally, that I will forget someone’s

name, or that I won’t be able to make small talk. Before I

met my girlfriend’s parents, I spent a week worrying

about what I would say and how I would act. First

impressions count, and with my perfectionistic nature, it
was important to me to make a good impression.

Trying to do things perfectly often means that I do not do

them quickly enough. Once, my perfectionism cost me

my summer job at a car wash. On my first day, I was
issued a T-shirt with a slogan on the back: “If you can

read this, I’m moving too slowly.” My job was to detail

the cars after they came out of the automated washer. I

would wipe the water from the car and polish the tires

and rims, while my partner, Grady, cleaned the inside of
the windows, polished the dash, and vacuumed the

seats. Grady always finished before I did and had to help

me with the rims and tires. When the manager thought

we weren’t working quickly enough, he would yell,

“Hustle it up, guys!” But hurrying meant that dirt was left